How Romans conquered Britain? 3. Fight on Meduee of

in the Spring of 43 g the Roman army - four legions, plus allies - batava and Thracians, plus engineering divisions - landed in Kent, near the present city of Richboro. Long them place had no need to sit in, whenever possible without delays Romans moved deep into Britain.

I at once faced resistance.

In the first day of march, during a crossing through the river Stour, the advanced parts of the Roman army were fired by the opponent. It is impossible to tell that it could overset seriously plans of the Roman commanders, only a small delay. Plus need to build the strengthened fort about the ford. Britons of bigger also did not hope to achieve. Excess one or two days of delays, need to leave small garrison - all plus for Togodumn and Karatak who were hastily collecting dismissed was army.

Romans were transported through Stour - and forward.

There were two ancient roads, from present Canterbury on North - the West, Uolting Street and Northern Lower. Clear business, not highways, only nayezzhenny tracks between bogs, but all the same. Romans to these roads got out and went on both at once. These ways not so far one from another are paved so legions quite could move thus, without losing among themselves touches. And ahead - as vanguard - a cavalry of allies.

From the right flank of Romans no distance at first to the sea, then to the navigable river Meduey. The flank is covered with water from sudden attack, it is one. The Roman fleet does not stay idle too, the army somehow should be supplied all-.

Thus Romans reached that place where the river Meduey abruptly turns. Closer to the mouth it flows from the West on the East, and before turn - almost precisely from the South on the North, though with numerous windings. There Britons also waited for them.

On east river bank there is a village of Vuldkhem (Wouldham), on western now - Helling (Halling). Here a little to the south of these villages all also occurred.

Togodumn was a leader of katuvellaun. But katuvellauna subordinated to themselves all Southern Britain by this time, and even a piece of Average. Some tribes still kept some theoretical independence, but Togodumn in combination, or his brother Karatak was considered as their Rex or.

And all the same. It is considered that Togodumn`s army totaled 150 thousand soldiers. That is historians calculated how many it could expose, and agreed on that. IMHO, search. It is represented to more real that 150 thousand - all mobilization reserve of katuvellaun and others and how many participated in decisive battle - two thirds? Half? It is less? God knows.

Britons took a good position. They were reliably (as it seemed to them) are covered with the river. Striking power of the British army - fighting chariots - was strong, more than ever, and numerous.

Armies stand on different coast Medueya and look at each other.

Legions were constructed in the following order (from the North on the South) - the IX Spanish, the XIV Twins, on the II of August and on the left flank - the XX Valeriyev.

Batavsky allies of the Roman army - to the north of legions. Behind a bend of their river from Togodumn`s rate it is not visible. There was something like the ford on the river, but the place quite deep and wide. For any other group the crossing would be difficult and fraught. But not for batav.

They were quietly transported near the northern suburb of the village of Vuldkhem and left to backs of army of Togodumn, just to the place of concentration of chariots. The hail of arrows fell upon Britons. Losses were not so big, unfortunate horses most of all suffered. Terrible fighting chariots turned into useless motionless carts. Batava made the dirty deed and departed.

Well, here. While Britons tried to reflect attack of batav, the II legion of the beginnings a crossing is much higher on a current (to the south), near the village of Snodlend. There the river does a loop, the peninsula turns out, his Romans used as the base on the west bank Medueya.

Day already tended to evening, the crossing happened in twilight. On the one hand, problemno, with another - Britons did not notice that five-thousandth connection already on the left river bank.

At dawn the XIV legion forced Meduey too and, leaning on the base occupied by the II legion, straight off attacked the enemy.

Britons, having even lost the majority of the horses and having left the chariots, were still strong. Katuvellauna began to surround the Fourteenth, Gney Hodizy Geta who rushed into their fighting orders headed attack of the legion nearly was taken prisoner. It is so written in the sense that to the young legate personally matter in the Roman army infrequent was necessary to wave with a sword. For they are feats of a legion and personal courage - Geta was awarded with “Ornamenta Triumphalia“ subsequently - the highest military award for the Roman who is not showing the member of an imperial family.

Of course, poorly it would be necessary to its legion if soon after the Fourteenth did not take the offensive on the II of August. The XX Valeriyev was already transported on the peninsula at this time. Batava were tightened too.

Romans cracked with consecutive blows from the South Togodumn`s defense, forced Britons to move to the North.

Britons resisted persistently and desperately. But they could not interfere with construction of the pontoon bridge a little to the north of the first base of Vespasian, opposite to present station Snodlend any more. The IX Spanish and Thracians began to be transported. Soon all Roman army was on the left coast.

Here it is necessary to pay tribute to the Roman engineering parts - let the river Meduey in this place and it is not especially wide, and all - construction of the bridge during battle - which - what means.

Togodumn, seeing that there are no chances of a victory, ordered to the brother Karatak to recede with a part of forces, and itself with the remained soldiers occupied defense around Hellingsky elementary school and Haulsmir Klouz Street.

The part of army of Britons, of course, ran up, nevertheless Rex with his group (a personal team) in the final managed to break through orders of Romans and to leave on the East. But soon Togodumn, the master of Britain, died from the wounds got in battle.

Fight on the river Meduey - one of the most grandiose in the British history. By quantity battling, following the results of battle. One of exceptional cases when Romans carried out and sustained two-day battle - it was not in their usual rules.

This fight happened at the beginning of June 43.

Well, here. The British army is crushed. Romans buried the killed, assembled the weapon and Islands prepare for further march deep into.